How is one to start again after losing the one thing that speaks to your heart and fuels your passion?After a serious accident leaves Calliope Rose Collins unable to continue with the career that has owned her soul for most of her life, she returns to Foxtail Lake, Hollister House, Great Aunt Gracie, and childhood friend, Officer Cass Wylander, where she begins to rebuild her life from the ashes … the ashes of what she once had.
In book 2 of The Cat in the Attic series – In addition to the time she spends at the animal shelter, Callie has a new sideline writing human interest stories for the regional newspaper. It is a job she loves and hopes to grow until she is asked to reveal the man behind the mask when Secret Santa comes to town and begins committing random acts of kindness.
Meanwhile, Cass has a new murder to solve, Gracie has gone crazy with the decorations, and Naomi’s friend Hancock comes to town.
more
I enjoyed this second in the series.
Callie is writing human interest stories for the local paper when her boss hands her the assignment of figuring out the Secret Santa who has been helping various people around town. Her friend Cass is busy trying to figure out the death of a local man.
I love these characters, the mystery of Secret Santa was fun, the mystery of the murdered man became a little lost to me, but it all tied up nicely in the end. I will continue on with this series.
The Mystery Before Christmas earns 5/5 Santa Smiles…Engaging Entertainment!
“Secret Santa strikes again…” is Callie’s lead in her new column set to run in the regional newspaper, Foxtail News. She is greatly intrigued by a rash of random acts of kindness by someone dubbed “Secret Santa” delivering exactly what a few deserving residents need for the holiday season: a new wheelchair, a down payment, snow shoveling services, transportation. Believing this “angel come to earth” needs public recognition, Callie sets out to uncover their identity. The motive seems to indicate the person is not unfamiliar with altruism and several locals have the means to give away thousands of dollars, but who has the opportunity to sneak around delivering such life-changing gifts and still remain secret? There was one resident, Ford Fisher, whose lodge buddies believe his odd behavior as of late might make him the perfect candidate as the mysterious Secret Santa. But, he was also close friends with Buford Norris whose body recently had been found under a pile of snow, frozen, with a bump on his head. Cass’s investigation has brought to light some curious evidence which sheds a suspicious light on Buford’s death. Is Ford’s odd behavior evidence he’s a busy Secret Santa or is it more related to his friend’s death?
I love this series…and it’s just getting started. Kathi Daley has penned an engaging mystery for book two with a twist on Secret Santa…secrets, greed, and the magic of Christmas converge. The incongruous nature of the mystery added to the drama and provided a great conversation starter. What would you do: reveal the Secret Santa identity or not? Daley also throws in a couple of murders with a connection that is slowly revealed, going one way, than another, before ending with a perilous, yet very satisfying conclusion. Callie is quite an admirable character with which many can identify. She’s taken her tragedy and found a new direction for her life as a journalist. Her human interest story about the local Secret Santa may be picked up by The Denver Post, but she’s also discovering her budding reporter skills translate well as an investigator. Her collaboration with Deputy Wylander creates a successful team, sharing clues, ideas, and scenarios, but can she resist him? There is the curse…that’ll be fun to follow. Music is still important in her life, but she just finds it a different place in her life. Great cozy page-turner!
The Mystery Before Christmas
Cat In The Attic, Book #2
Kathi Daley
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In book 2 of The Cat in the Attic series – In addition to the time she spends at the animal shelter Callie has a new sideline writing human interest stories for the regional newspaper, there is a Secret Santa in town committing random acts of kindness, Cass has a new murder to solve, and Naomi’s friend Hancock comes to town.
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. The relationship between Callie and Cass is developing nicely and you can tell that they mean a lot to each other. The author is very talented in her character development and these characters are people you would want to be friends with.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I really liked the theme of this book and the moral dilemma that Callie was faced with. I thought that gave an extra heartfelt feeling to this book, one I really enjoyed. The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This author has another hit series, and I look forward to reading the next one.
Someone in town is being very charitable, they are helping those in need left and right. Somehow the Secret Santa knows just what each person needs. Having written several stories for the town paper Callie has been tasked with writing a series of articles and she is excited about what can come of it. The only problem she is having is now everyone, herself included, feels about unmasking such a giving person. Meanwhile her friend Cass is working on the death of a local man, it looks like he might have frozen to death but Cass suspects fowl play. He plans on doing all he can to bring down the killer, Callie is happy to help in anyway that she can. Follow along as these to work on there perspective mysteries, try to fit in some holiday fun, and work with the animals at the local shelter. This is such a great series, very heartfelt and warm not to mention it always includes a wonderful mystery.
The Mystery Before Christmas is book two in the Cat in the Attic series. Callie’s story kept me hooked. This was a great addition to this series. I look forward to more.
Intriguing and a definite page turner AND its a Christmas story! Loved learning more about Callie and her friends and am looking forward to getting to know them even better with future stories. The mystery is full of twists and turns which will keep you guessing — I thoroughly enjoyed following the clues and trying to solve the whodunits. Kathi Daley stories are definite must reads if you love cozy mysteries with awesome characters.
A Secret Santa has came to Foxtail Lake. Calliope (Callie) is determined to win a full time position on The Foxtail News by writing an article about the goodness of the Secret Santa and the recipients of the well needed items. When The Post picks up this first article, Dex at The Foxtail News, offers Callie an opportunity to write two more stories. The second article is to contain possible names of people who could be the Secret Santa and the third article will reveal who the actual Secret Santa is. However during this same time one of the town residents is found frozen to death and Callie is attempting to help the Sheriff to determine who might have done it. When a second death occurs the question rises could they be linked.
I love the goodness in Callie and her Aunt Grace’s heart. It is also endearing to see how much Callie is willing to give back to the community at the Animal Shelter and community events. We also begin to see how the friendship with Callie and her friend Cass blossoms.
Enchanting – this book is filled with sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas!
The Mystery Before Christmas is the second book in the fabulous new A Cat in the Attic cozy mystery series by Kathi Daley. This book is filled with elements of a cozy mystery including suspense, romance, humor, love, friends and family, and a sense of community. The setting is perfect for a Christmas mystery: it is often snowing outside and there are festive decorations all around town. Residents of Foxtail Lake in the Colorado Rockies are looking forward to the tree lighting, the Santa House, an ice fishing competition, and the Christmas in the Mountains event.
This book is filled with heart-warming side stories within the mystery. Along with the suspense, there were moments that made me laugh, and moments that made me teary-eyed. As always, Ms. Daley’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable read.
As the Christmas season approaches certain residents of this small community who have fallen upon hard times receive gifts that will have major impact on their futures. Who is behind these gifts? Why now? Who is deciding what to give and to whom?
Callie is given the assignment to find out for the local newspaper. This could be her big break and lead to a job as a real reporter. But is identifying the Secret Santa the right thing to do?
Callie has to struggle with facing her own fears and conscience as she works on three articles for the newspaper. She also volunteers for town activities and ponders if Secret Santa has ties to two suspicious deaths.
Another intriguing mystery from Kathi Daley full of heart and holiday charm.
The Mystery Before Christmas is the second book in Kathi Daley’s A Cat in the Attic Mystery series. The storyline flows smoothly, and Ms. Daley provides great background information about the characters in this awesome and delightful series. The characters are well rounded, and the mysteries are well plotted and interesting, with lots of twists and red herrings. Once again, Ms. Daley has provided readers with a clean, fun read, with caring and compassionate characters, and intriguing mysteries. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.
Two months ago, Calliope “Callie” Rose Collins returned home to Foxtail Lake, which is nestled in the Colorado Rockies, and is living with her great-aunt Gracie in Hollister House and enjoying the company of Alastair, Gracie’s longhaired black cat. Gracie raised Callie after she lost her parents when she was a young child, and Callie spent hours in the attic, her safe haven, trying to adjust to her loss and dream of her future. An accident shattered Callie’s career as a concert pianist, but she is beginning to put her life back together. She’s reconnected with her childhood friend, Officer Cass Wylander, volunteers at the Foxtail Lake Animal Shelter, has befriended Paisley Holloway, a young girl who recently lost her mother, and has started a new career as a columnist for the local newspaper. Callie’s latest assignment involves Foxtail Lake’s Secret Santa, the mysterious gift giver who is bestowing random acts of kindness to the town’s residents and seems to know exactly what each gift recipient needs the most. Meanwhile, Cass is investigating the death of Buford Norris, who was found buried beneath the snow. Most people thought he got drunk, passed out, hit his head, and froze to death, but Cass believed something else was going on and suspected foul play.
Calliope Rose, Callie, Collins is settling in back in Foxtail Lake, a small Rocky Mountain town after an accident ended her musical career. She volunteers at the animal shelter and has a new job at the local paper. When residents of the town are gifted with items they really need, the mystery of Secret Santa is going around and Callie is writing a series of articles on that. In addition, Cass winds up with two murders to solve and Callie is pulled into the investigation with him.
The second book in Kathi Daley’s new Cat in the Attic series, this book was a wonderful read. Kathi blends friendships and the feel of a small town very well. I was hooked from beginning to end. The book’s well-written with well-rounded characters. I highly recommend both book and series. I was given an early copy of this book.
The Mystery Before Christmas ( A Cat in the Attic Mystery-Book 2 )
By: Kathi Daley
The Mystery Before Christmas is book two in A Cat in the Attic Mystery series. The story is well written and flows smoothly. The Character are well developed. It is Christmas time and Christmas is in the air. Some people have fallen on hard times, but it seems like there is a secret Santa around to help out. There is plenty of mystery and murder. Callie has her hands full trying to write a story for the paper. Will she get her story written? Is there really a secret Santa? What about the dead bodies?